Liquid dispensing device



May 28, 1935. NALL 2,002,611

LIQUID DISPENS ING DEVICE Filed July 30, 1932 ATTOR Y Patented May 28, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 14 Claims.

This invention relates in general to liquid dis- 4 liquid dispenser which cooperate in combination to rapidly drain or cascade the contents of a sealed, non-refillable container from its bottom into the dispenser, while simultaneously and instantaneously venting the container from its bottom, so that a unit charge of a liquid product may be completely and expeditiously transferred and delivered from the container into the dispenser and from the latter into the ultimate place of deposit.

An important object of the invention is the provision of a novel method of dispensing branded or labeled motor oils in sealed, tamperproof containers in an expeditious and economical manner, which method is designed to substantially prevent substitution and adulteration of the oils and to protect the ultimate consumer against adulterated and inferior quality.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of an improved container opening device or cutter so constructed and arranged within an oil dispenser as to insure complete and rapid draining or dumping of the oil of a sealed oil container into the dispenser, to prevent soiling of the outer surface of the container with oil and to permit quick and easy withdrawal of the emptied container from the opening device and dispenser.

Still another important object of theinvention is the provision of such an opening device or cutter which isadapted to open a container filled with oil at a plurality of points in its bottom end, which will at once produce an opened area with a discharge capacity greater than the discharge capacity of the dispenser and which is constructed, arranged within, and spaced relative to the dispenser to permit ready access of air to the interior of the oil container for venting purposes and to also permit ready removal of the device fromthe dispenser for purposes of repair, sharpening, cleaning, etc.

Still another important object of the invention is the provision of an improved container opening device or cutter having a plurality of cutting blades and associated container wall deflecting means for deflecting or displacing the out portions of the container to enlarge the discharge openings to permit the quick draining or cascading of the contents of the container, the rapid draining being aided by certain air passages formed by the arrangement of the blades and deflecting means.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the dispenseror holder with parts broken away and parts in section to show the cutter arranged in cutting posi-' tion within the dispenser and also showing an oil container in superposed alignment with the dispenser;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the improved cutter or opening device;

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of the opening device or cutter; I

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken through the dispenser, cutter and opened container, the section of the cutter being taken along the lines 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. is a plan view of the bottom of the container after it has been completely opened and vented by the opening device or cutter shown in Fig. 2.

Referring now in more detail to the drawing:

The preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing comprises in general a holder or dispenser A, an opening device or cutter B, and a receptacle or container C adapted to be filled with the product to be dispensed and sealed to prevent tampering and refilling.

The holder or dispenser A is similar to that now commonly in use at oil and gasoline stations and in garages, but modified for use in connection with the novel method of dispensing lubricating oil herein described and claimed. It comprises a cylindrical body ll, open at the top, of heavy sheet metal and preferably nickel or chromium plated inside and out. The top and bottom edges of the body H are rolled outwardly into hollow top and bottom beads its center the body is provided with screw holes l4 (three are employed in the preferred illustration) equallyspaced about the periphery of the body.

A conically shaped bottom I5 is secured to the l2 and I3 and slightly above lower end of the body in any suitable liquid tight manner. The bottom I5 is formed with a horizontal pipe extension Hi, to which is connected a flexible hose or tube H, which extends outwardly through an opening in the wall of the body I I between the bottom end I5 and the bottom bead l3. This hose terminates in a curved and tapered spout I8.

When not in use for dispensing purposes, the hose I! and spout l8 are adapted to be supported in upward position by a hook l8 extending out horizontally from the upper bead E2 of the body II, as shown in Fig. 1.

In order that the dispenser A may be conveniently carried about and readily manipulated for dispensing purposes, the body II is provided, preferably opposite the hose and spout, with a handle 2| which is spaced away at an angle from the body and is secured thereto by means of a short, upper horizontal arm 22 and a longer,

, lower, slanting arm 23.

The container opening device or cutter B (Fig. 2) comprises a frame member or supporting band 24 of cylindrical shape, and having an outer diameter substantially less than the inner diameter of the dispenser body II, and less than the outer diameter of the container C to be opened. Vertito be brought into alignment with the screw holes l4 of the dispenser body H, so that the cutter B may be rigidly secured to the inside of and be supported by the dispenser body I I by means of screw and nutconnections 21 (Fig. 1) or other securing means.

Preferably, three cutting knives or blades 28 are radially arranged inside of the band 24. Each blade is preferably formed from tool steel and has a keen, triangularly sharpened cutting edge 29, an inner; long, vertical straight edge 3|, an outer, short vertical edge 32, and a horizontal bottom edge 33 (Fig. 4). The inner vertical edges 3| of the three cutting blades engage each other in tight fitting, abutting relationship and together form a vertical axis which coincides with the center of the circle defined by the supporting band 24. i

The sharp cut edges 29 of the three blades at their top extremities merge into a sharp cutter point or apex 34. From this common point each cut edge slopes downwardly and outwardly and merges a short distance above the top of the band 24.- into the outer edges 32. These latter edges bear upon the inner wall of the band 24 and terminate adjacentthe bottom of the band 24. The blades 28 are securely held in their radial position by three supporting web members 35. Each of the members 35 is formed from a single pieceof sheet metal bent uponitself along a center line to provide a doublewalled, outwardly tapered, radially extendingdeflecting member 36 and two side wings or blade supporting members 31. The latter have their outer and, lower ex- .tremities bent at substantially right angles to form arcuate flanges 39, which are adapted to conform to the arcuate inn'er wall of the cylindrical band 24, and to be secured theretoby spot welding or in ether suitable manner. Each of the three web members 35 has an apex 48 terminating a short distance below the cutter apex "34' and is adapted to be positioned'between two opposed sides of the cutting blades 28, and to be spot welded thereto to hold the blades rigidly in place.

To further support the blades 28, each alternate wing 31 is formed with a flange extension H, which is bent at substantially a right angle to the wall of the wing 31. This extension passes under and supports the horizontal bottom edge 33 of an associated cutting blade 28' and the horizontal bottom edge of the adjacent flangeless wing 31, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

This figure also shows that when the web members and cutting blades are assembled as above described, three air passages or vent holes 38 are provided, one in each corner formed by the abutting vertical edges 3| of the radially arranged blades 28. These air passages commence at the bottom of the abutting edges 3|- with outlets at the apex 48 of the web members 35. They permit air to rise to the starting point of the cutting operation, i. e., to adjacent the apex 34, where the cutting commences and facilitate the venting of the container C simultaneously with the cutting operation.

To further aid in the complete and rapid draining of the container C and to prevent retention of any of the liquid in recesses formed by uncut portions of the container wall, the cutter B is also provided with a series of relatively short, triangular shaped puncturing elements or spears 42. There are preferably three of these spears and they are positioned on the inner wall of the band 24, one preferably opposite eachdeflecting member 36. They may be secured to the band by a rivet connection 43. Just below the rivet 43 the band 24 is provided with a flange extension 44 which is bent inwardly and upwardly to engage and support the bottom part of each spear (Fig. 4).

, Each spear 42 is formed from a single piece of tool steel bent at an angle to present two flaring wings having rounded bottom edges (Fig. 4), and central straight edges which converge into sharp cutting edges 45 which merge into a sharp cutting point 46. Each wing is also provided with an elongated draining aperture 41. Being shorter than the cutting blades 28 and having their cut edges at alower level, these spears or puncturing elements 42 come into cutting or piercing action a little later than the blades 28 and their primary function is tocut open those portions of the container which are left uncut by the blades 28.

The container C which is to be opened by the cutter B within the dispenser A may be of any suitable construction and preferably comprises a cylindrical body 48 having its side edges joined together and sealed by a soldered side seam 48 and having flanged top and bottom ends 51 and 52 interlocked with the topand bottom flanges of the body 48 in top and bottom double seams 53 and 54. This type ofcontainer can be only,

opened by destroying a wall part, as by piercing or cutting, and after opening it cannot be reusedor refilled. It also readily lends itself to being branded or'labeled to advertise its contents. It thus assures the ultimate consumer that he is receiving the brand and quality of contents he I the dispenser.

, 55 between the blades 28.

Further downward movement of the container brings the deflecting members 36 in contact with the tips of the uncut portions 55 and bends and curls them inwardly (Figs. 4 and 5) thereby enlarging the openings produced by the cutting blades and forming a substantially triangular discharge area 56. Still further downward movement of the container brings the arcuate base parts of the uncut portions 55 first in contact with the spear or puncturing members 42 and then impales the base parts over the spears which, due to their shape, produce triangular shaped holes 51 in the still remaining bottom wall. The metal of the bottom thus cut is rolled up in curls 58. This cutting and displacing action completely and quickly drains any liquid that might be caught in the recesses or pockets formed by the deflected bottom portions.

Simultaneous with-the cutting and puncturing of the container bottom and from the very beginning of the cutting operation, air is admitted to the interior of the container. Part of this air rises from the bottom of the dispenser as the air is displaced there by the down rushing oil and part descends from the open top of the dispenser, past the container body 48 which, as described, is of smaller diameter than the inner diameter of The air flowing from the top of the dispenser may enter through the open bottom of the band 24, the seam 54 being spaced away from the top of the band 24 a distance equal to the projecting parts of the spacer blocks 25, which support the seam 54.

The downward movement of the container and the simultaneous cutting and venting of the container takes place in a very brief space of time, only a few seconds being necessary to cut, vent and completely drain the contents of the container. This has been successfully demonstrated in actual practice.

By reason of the fact that the band 24 is secured to the dispenser body above its cylindrical center, the liquid holding capacity of the dispenser below the cutter B is greater than the liquid holding capacity of the container C. Hence, the level of the drained oil in the dispenser will never reach the container C and the latter will always be kept substantially free of oil and the outer lithographed surface of the container will not be soiled.

It has been e plained that the combined discharge capacity of the openings produced in the container bottom by the cutter blades 25, deflecting means 35 and spears 42, is greater than the dispensing capacity of the hose l1 and spout 88. A charge of oil in the container C may be thus quickly dumped or cascaded into the dispenser A, but sufficient time will elapse between the withdrawal of an emptied container from the dispenser and the insertion and opening of a fresh container to permit complete delivery of the drained oil through the hose I1 and the spout i8 into the crank case of an automobile or other discharge point.

parent that various changes may be made inthe form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A container opening device, comprising a plurality of cutting elements adapted to produce a plurality of discharge openings in a single wall of a container and means associated with said elements to instantaneously vent said container through said openings simultaneously with the cutting, a dispensing vessel having a closable bottom and containing said cutting elements, and a support for the container arranged at a distance above the bottom of the vessel substantially equal to the height of the container.

2. A container openingdevice, comprising a supporting frame, a plurality of cutting elements arranged centrally and radially upon said frame and adapted to cut at a plurality of points in a single plane through a container bottom to be opened to quickly drain the container and means for venting said container through said cuts simultaneously with the cutting, a dispensing vessel having a closable bottom and containing said cutting elements and a support for the container arranged at a distance above the bottom of the vessel substantially equal to the height of the container.

3. A container opening device, comprising in combination, a plurality of cutting elements, container wall deflecting means associated with said elements, said elements and said means together forming air passages for venting a container simultaneously with its being cut, a dispensing vessel having a closable bottom and containing said opening device and a support for the container arranged at a distance above the bottom of the vessel to maintain at all times an uninterrupted air space below the cut container.

4. A liquid dispensing device, comprising in combination, a holder having a closable bottom and adapted to receive and support a sealed receptacle containing a liquid to be dispensed and also adapted to receive said liquid from said receptacle, supporting means in said holder at a distance above the bottom thereof and holding the receptacle above a space which will hold all of the contents of the receptacle, and means in said holder for simultaneously opening the bottom of said receptacle and venting the samethrough said bottom.

5. A liquid dispensing device, comprising in combination, a dispenser adapted to receive and support a sealed receptacle containing a liquid to be dispensed and also adapted to receive said liquid from said receptacle and to permit passage of air thereabout, and means within said dispenser for fracturing the bottom of said receptacle upon its insertion in the dispenser to simultaneously permit delivery of the liquid and cause admission of air into said receptacle.

6. A liquid dispensing device, comprising in combination, a dispenser adapted to receive and support a sealed receptacle containing a liquid to be dispensed and also adapted to receive said liquid from said receptacle, and means within said dispenser for cutting the bottom of said receptacle upon its insertion within the dispenser and maintaining an air vent above the fluid delivered into said dispenser and into said receptacle.

7. A liquid dispensing device, comprising in combination, a holder adapted to receive and support a sealed receptacle containing liquid to be dispensed and also adapted to receivesaid liquid, a cutter positioned within said holder and provided with air vents, said receptacle being spaced away from said holder and said cutter to permit air to entersaid vents and into said receptacle.

8. A liquid dispensing device, having in combination, a dispenser having means to receive and support a sealed receptacle containing a liquid to be dispensed and having below said means a chamber of substantially the holding capacity of said receptacle and adapted to receive and contain at one time all of the liquid from said receptacle, and means within said dispenser for fracturing the bottom of said receptacle when the latter is inserted into the dispenser, and means associated with said fracturing means and forming air passages with the latter to permit air to enter said receptacle to cause rapid discharge of the contents.

9. A container opening device, comprising a support, radially disposed cutting elements mounted thereon and adapted to produce radial openings in a presented Wall of a container and air passages formed between adjacent cutting elements.

10. A container opening device, comprising a support, radially disposed and centrally converging cutting elements mounted on said support, and members connecting adjacent cutting elements and forming air passages between said elements.

11. A container opening device comprising a support, a plurality of cutters mounted thereon and members associated with said cutters to form therewith air passages, said members also serving to deflect partially cut portions of a said container to produce a substantial pouring openmg.

12. A liquid dispensing device, comprising in combination, a dispenser for receiving a. sealed container to be opened therein, a combined container wall cutting and deflecting member substantially centrally located within said dispenser, said member including as a part thereof venting means adapted to conduct air into said container during the opening operation to efiect rapid draining of the contents of said container.

13. A container opening device, comprising in combination, a plurality of cutting elements, container wall deflecting means associated with said elements, said elements and said means together forming air passages for venting a container simultaneously with its being cut, and means for draining fluid trapped in the container by the deflected wall, said draining means comprising apertured puncturing elements.

14. A liquid dispensing device, in combination, a dispenser having a closable bottom and an open top, a cutter and venting device secured within said dispenser intermediate said bottom and said top and'dividing said dispenser into an upper chamber for thereception and opening of a liquid container and a lower chamber of a capacity to receive and hold at one time all of the liquid contents of said container, and an air space beneath the container and between the same and the level of the liquid collected in said lower chamber for maintaining a free flow of air between said chambers and the inside of said container.

ELMERL. NALL. 

